This PV was so powerful. I love it to pieces because I can finally put my awesome "recognizing archetype" skills to work! Ha ha, so here I go~
Note: Archetypes are symbols, "patterns which structure our imagination and make it distinctly human." (
Jung's Archetypes )
I agree with basically everything jerms said, and everyone else; she is a puppet, or a machine, that is being controlled like a doll by her management, and copies are being made of her (by Avex? Maybe this is some underhand jab at Ai Otsuka? xD I kid, I kid...) but she is powerless to stop them -- her arms are cut off. When arms are taken away or injured and are not able to be used, it represents
helplesness.
Clowns, clown faces, masks, etc. represent the "persona," which is how we present ourselves to the world. These aren't bad to have, because they are necessary for getting along with others. This might be a stretch, but the mask definition of a clown seems on target.
The color white represents purity, innocence, perfection, and understanding. Ayumi, herself, dancing in all white seems to be a clear use of this. She knows what her future will be like, and the doll she is also represented with is perfect because it is a machine. The doll is pure and innocent because it doesn't realize that it's falling into a trap.
Black basically means hate & dark emotions, and mysterious and unknown (powerful) forces. The contrast to black (the clowns!), is obvious: white = good, black = evil. But, their relationship, means a clear understanding and balance.
However, in all-white Ayumi, her lips are red. Red symbolizes the life force within us, and words and song come from her mouth. Her mouth and songs are her life force, and her prosperity, which makes her perfect and pure. However, the red is faded, and that symbolizes a life that is fading away.
Yeah. My media players don't seem to like the Alterna PV that much, because they keep slowing it down (aaargh, most annoying thing on earth, I swear)... Any other symbolism people want my opinions on? XD
EDIT;;
About the slip. As ladies know, you're really not supposed to wear those as just regular clothes, lol. This seems to symbolize her pureness (she's naive), and also her vulnerability. With only her underclothes on, she is almost nude to the world.
Also, gender arcehtypes come into play here. Assuming the clowns represent Avex, but also Ayumi's mask, they are opposites. The white Ayumi is a woman (duh), but Avex is represented as a man. Opposites are usually revealed to make the differences of each being clear: in this case, Ayumi is good and the victim; the clowns are bad and the victimizer.
Sadly, I don't have a reason for the eye, or the children.
But maybe the children symbolize... for instance, the girl is captivated by the images on the telivisions, and the boy sees this as an opportunity to sneak a peak -- thinking that she is inferior, and he can easily take advantage of this (these are gender archetypes, too). And as the girl slaps his hand away, she is smiling, meaning she doesn't take the act seriously or insultingly. That's not a way that should be taken, and maybe, as Ayumi shows herself losing her innocence (her sense of self), society is losing its sense of self as well? XD That's kinda stretching it...